Fandango veteran Stephanie Tierney has been tapped to help AMC Theatres build out its new movie distribution business following the record-shattering success of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour tour and Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé.
Tierney’s title is vice president, distribution. In the newly created role, she’ll be responsible for working with the music industry to develop other projects, come up with customized distribution strategies and marketing campaigns designed to optimize fan engagement.
In a twinned move, AMC’s fledgling distribution venture — headed up by Nikkole Denson-Randolph — has promoted Kevin Arnold to vp of programming promotions & partnerships, effective immediately. The mandate for all three execs is to bring additional leading music artists to the big screen via AMC Theatres Distribution.
Last year, Hollywood was caught off guard when Swift’s team bypassed the Hollywood studio system and hired AMC as the film’s distributor. It was virtually unheard of for movie theater operators to play the role of a distributor, but The Eras Tour grossed $261.6 million globally, and Beyoncé quickly followed suit with her own film that grossed $43.9 million domestically.
At Fandango, Tierney led the integrated marketing team and worked closely with Hollywood studios, independent distributors, theatrical exhibitors, and brand partners to drive consumer awareness and ticket sales. Prior to Fandango, she led partner marketing for brands including like Sundance Institute, Film Independent, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Los Angeles Clippers and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
“The remarkable success of AMC Theatres Distribution last Fall opened an exciting new business for AMC, and we are thrilled to have Stephanie Terifay’s expertise and enthusiasm build upon the brilliant leadership of Nikkole Denson-Randolph,” AMC Chief Content Officer Elizabeth Frank said in statement.